In 2009 the Palestinian Authority has initiated an unprecedented campaign of historical revision and anti-Israel libels concerning Jerusalem, the focal point being the erasure and denial of 3,000 years of Jewish history in Jerusalem.

In addition, the PA disseminates the libel that Israel is acting both to expel Arabs from Jerusalem and to destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Jerusalem libels are designed to evoke religious hatred by portraying Israel and the Jews as a threat to Arabs and Islam.

This section documents the recent intensification of the Palestinian Authority's campaign of distortion, historical revision and hate incitement surrounding Jerusalem.

This cartoon with the caption "Judaization of Jerusalem" shows, from right to left, a sinister-looking Jew first sharing the chair with an Arab and then shoving him off.
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, official PA daily, Feb 24, 2009]

Jerusalem is "land of Ribat" - holy Islamic land

The Palestinian Authority has adopted the Hamas ideology of framing the conflict with Israel as a religious war for Allah. Jerusalem and all of Israel are defined as "Ribat" - holy Islamic land - whose "liberation" and defense are said to be mandatory under Islamic law. The significance of the PA defining the conflict as “Ribat” is clear when reading how a PA schoolbook defines “Ribat":

"The Ribat for Allah is one of the actions related to Jihad ...The persistence of Palestine's people on their land in these days [i.e., Israel], and their persistence against the damage and the aggression they endure - is one of the greatest of the Ribat [fighting for Islamic land], and they are worthy of a great reward from Allah.... they are found in Ribat until Resurrection." [Islamic Education, grade 12, p. 86-87]

Since 2008, Palestinian leaders have frequently defined all of Israel, and particularly Jerusalem, as land of "Ribat" - i.e., areas which Muslims have a religious obligation to defend and liberate for Islam. In the past, it was specifically Hamas that defined the conflict with Israel as a religious war. Now, the PA - Fatah leadership regularly presents its war against Israel as a religious battle for Islam.

Headline: “Hanna Issa calls for Ribat at the Al-Aqsa [Mosque] on the ‘anniversary of the destruction of the Temple’”
“Secretary-General of the [Palestinian Authority’s] Islamic-Christian Council for Jerusalem and the Holy Places, Dr. Hanna Issa, stated that Ribat (i.e., religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic) at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and presence in it, are not limited to the month of Ramadan alone, and called on Palestinians to carry out Ribat in the coming days in order to thwart the settlers’ plots to invade [the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound]… Issa noted the words of the extremist Yehuda Glick regarding his plans and efforts regarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque: ‘The Jerusalem Noble Sanctuary (i.e., the Temple Mount) is a place of worship for all the religions, where all pray to God. Because the Dome of the Rock cannot hold all of them, we need a larger building,' [and Issa said] this is a clear, allusion to the plans striving to destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque and build the alleged Temple on its ruins.”

Note: The PA considers any presence of Jews on the Temple Mount an "invasion." However, all visitors are subject to rigorous checks by Israeli security personnel before being granted access to the Temple Mount.
PMW has been unable to verify the statements attributed to Rabbi Yehuda Glick.

Headline: “Ida’is calls to visit Al-Aqsa and protect Jerusalem from Judaization”
“Minister of Religious Affairs Yusuf Ida’is… reiterated his call to visit the Al-Aqsa Mosque and to continuously carry out Ribat (i.e., religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic) there, and begged Allah to remove the injustice and occupation from our land, and that the place of our Prophet’s [Muhammad] Ascent to Heaven (Miraj) be free.”

Article in response to the distribution of leaflets that threaten the Christians in Jerusalem signed in the name of ISIS. “The [PA] Ministry of Information stated that the desperate, dubious attempts to sow the seeds of sectarian strife in occupied Jerusalem - through leaflets which the occupation is behind and attacks carried out by a few incited youths against churches and residential houses in the holy city - are carried out by unenlightened people who accuse others of heresy, deviate from the teachings of Islam and make every effort to cause a rift in the national line, blacken it and tarnish it with hatred. The Ministry emphasized that these seeds will remain foreign to the land of Palestine that is saturated with the blood of the Martyrs (Shahids) and with the situation and destiny common to our one people, regardless of religion, color or gender. It pointed out that the occupation, which has failed politically and morally, attempts to ignite sectarian strife in the city of peace, the land of Ribat (i.e., religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic)... It stressed that the Palestinian people, Muslims and Christians alike, whose blood is mixed together as they courageously defend our land, will remain immune to the dubious, strife-mongering entities. The Ministry called on all the factions and national institutions, and our people, to stand against the occupation and its agents’ dubious attempts.”
Click "full article" for a longer excerpt from the article

Headline: “The Islamic-Christian Council calls to carry out Ribat”
“The [PA's] Islamic-Christian Council for Jerusalem and the Holy Places congratulated the Arab and Islamic nation today [June 16, 2015] on the month of Ramadan…
The Council’s Secretary-General, Dr. Hana Issa, said that this year the month of Ramadan is an opportunity to realize the national unity in Palestine…
Dr. Issa added: ‘We call on our entire Palestinian people in the West Bank and in the territories of the occupied interior (i.e., Israel), and anyone who can, to carry out Ribat (i.e., religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic) in the Al-Aqsa Mosque’s courtyards, to help the [Palestinian] Jerusalem markets and merchants by abstaining from entering the Israeli markets, and by boycotting their goods and their settlements’ products.”

Headline: “Ida’is: 126 attacks against Al-Aqsa and Al-Ibrahimi in April”
“[PA] Minister of Religious Affairs Sheikh Yusuf Ida'is renewed his call to the Arab and Islamic world to visit the Al-Aqsa Mosque, to support its people, to come to know and to convey the suffering of our people who stands firm on its land and defends its Al-Aqsa [Mosque], its Ibrahimi Mosque (i.e., Cave of the Patriarchs) and other places of worship in a remarkable way. This is to ensure that continuous Ribat (i.e., religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic) is carried out in them and thus thwart the plans of the occupation and its settlers to take them over definitively.”

Headline: “The General Mufti condemned the Jewish parties’ call to invade the Al-Aqsa Mosque”
“PA Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian [Territories] and preacher at the Al-Aqsa Mosque Sheikh Muhammad Hussein condemned the call of Jewish parties, organizations and various public figures to carry out repeated invasions of the Al-Aqsa Mosque this coming Wednesday and Thursday [April 22-23, 2015], to hold Talmudic prayers (i.e., Jewish prayers) in it and to raise the Israeli flag… Hussein urged every [Palestinian] from Jerusalem and its surroundings and from among the 1948 Palestinians (i.e., Israeli Arabs) who can reach the Al-Aqsa Mosque, to visit it, to carry out Ribat (i.e., religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic) in it and to pray in it in order to stop those who want to invade and desecrate it.”

Note: The PA considers any presence of Jews on the Temple Mount an "invasion." However, all visitors are subject to rigorous checks by Israeli security personnel before being granted access to the Temple Mount.

“Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Holy Lands [Sheikh] Muhammad Hussein stressed that the [Al-Aqsa Mosque’s] prayer halls, domes, gates, passageways, stone benches, and auxiliary structures form an inseparable part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque... He [Sheikh Muhammad Hussein] noted that they [Israel] had already attacked the Al-Aqsa Mosque in 1996, [at which] the Palestinian people came out against them in what became known as the “Tunnel Uprising” (i.e., the Western Wall tunnel riots, see below), and also in 1996, when they tried to lay the cornerstone for Solomon’s alleged temple, after which the Murabitin (i.e., those carrying out Ribat, religious conflict/war to protect land claimed to be Islamic) came out and confronted them [in clashes] which claimed [the lives] of 20 Martyrs (Shahids). Then came [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s [sic.; should be Ariel Sharon’s] attempt to defile the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa [Mosque] in September 2000, which led to the blessed second Intifada (i.e., the Al-Aqsa Intifada, the PA terror campaign 2000-2005) which started in the Al-Aqsa courtyards in order to defend Al-Aqsa from the attempts to desecrate it, take control over it and provoke the Muslims’ sensibilities…
[Sheikh Muhammad Hussein] added that [Israel is aware that,] in desecrating the holy places and the places of worship, it has ignited a deadly game, and that whoever perpetrates crimes against us and our holy places must bear the consequences..."From WAFA, independent Palestinian news agency
Click "Full article" for a longer excerpt and note

Headline: “Delegation from Jerusalem ‎expresses condolences for the deaths of ‎the female Martyrs (Shahidas) of Al-Aqsa.”‎
‎“A large delegation from the Supreme ‎Muslim Council and from among the ‎traders of Jerusalem arrived in the ‎township of Hura in the Negev to offer ‎condolences to the families of the eight ‎female Martyrs (Shahidas) who died in a ‎terrible accident while returning home ‎after having participated in the Friday ‎prayer at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque. ‎During the meeting with the Martyrs’ ‎family members, Sheikh Ikrima Sabri ‎‎[head of the Palestinian Organization of ‎Clerics and Disseminators of Islam and ‎former Mufti of Jerusalem] gave a speech ‎of condolences, for Allah, exalted be He, ‎has honored the Martyrs with Martyrdom ‎‎(Shahada), after they carried out Ribat ‎‎(religious conflict/war over land claimed to ‎be Islamic) at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.”‎

Note: The girls who were declared ‎‎“Martyrs” were killed in a car accident after ‎a truck collided with the bus they were in.‎

“The Israeli Magistrate Court has published its decision to impose administrative detention on Adnan Ghaith, director of Fatah’s Jerusalem branch… Ghaith assumed his position at a time when Jerusalem was witnessing recurring closings of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, an increase in the occupation’s arrogance and savagery toward the city’s residents, expressed through the murder of Jerusalem residents on the one hand, and through recurring attacks against the residents of Jerusalem by the settler herds on the other. Things got to the point that [Fatah’s Jerusalem] branch published an announcement calling for a general recruitment of the Palestinian masses and of Jerusalem residents. The announcement read: ‘The fact that the Al-Aqsa Mosque has been abandoned and its sanctity defiled amounts to a declaration of religious war against the Palestinian people, the Arab nation and the Muslim nation. Therefore, we are calling on all citizens to carry out Ribat (religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic) at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in order to defend it, whatever the sacrifice, and in order to prevent the occupation authorities from carrying out their plans to Judaize Jerusalem and its holy symbols…’"

“Fatah’s Jerusalem branch, under the patronage of the Qatannah Association for Development and Strengthening, honored [PA] Minister of Religious Affairs Sheikh Yusuf Ida'is for his efforts in [ensuring] the success of the season of the pilgrimage to Mecca for the year 1435, according to the Islamic calendar… Ida’is dedicated this honor to the Martyrs (Shahids), prisoners, wounded and Murabitin (those who carry out Ribat, religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic) in the plazas of Al-Aqsa, and promised to award grants for the duty of pilgrimage to Mecca to the Murabitin and the defenders of Al-Aqsa.”

“District Governor of Ramallah and El-Bireh Laila Ghannam stressed that Jerusalem would continue to be proud of its residents, who, despite the severe conditions, insist on carrying out Ribat (religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic) at the ‘national gate to heaven,’ (i.e., the Al-Aqsa Mosque, from which the Prophet Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven) in order to emphasize its Palestinian and Arab nature, which have been desecrated by the last and longest occupation humanity has known.”

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas: "... Netanyahu began saying, ‘You have to recognize the Jewish State.’ We refused, absolutely refused. He directed his demand at us, not any [other country] in the world – in other words, he wanted no recognition from any other country in the world but us. We know why. We know very well why he spoke of a Jewish State. They started speaking about issues that could potentially affect the Arabs of 1948 (i.e., Israeli Arabs). When you say ‘Jewish State,’ they [the Israeli Arabs] are outside of it. This is one of the many reasons [we refused], and therefore, we continue to say: We will recognize the State of Israel. If Israel wants to call itself by a certain name, it should turn to the UN – although we would not agree [to such a move], neither now or in the future, under no circumstances. Now, [regarding] the events in the Palestinian territories, the attack on Al-Aqsa, the attack on the synagogue and then [again] Al-Aqsa. In practice, Israel wants to turn this into a religious war, and we have spoken about this repeatedly, saying: ‘You are giving an excuse to those who speak of an Islamic state – IS and the others.’ All of them give excuses to each other. For us, in the 21st century, this idea is not [relevant] – not an Islamic state, not a Christian state, not a Jewish state. Therefore, [when] you reach this line, you Israelis are leading a religious war which will happen, or is already happening, and will increasingly heat up in the region, in view of your statements and your demand that we recognize a Jewish state. We will not recognize a Jewish state and will not allow any opportunity to be given to [those wishing to] declare an Islamic state in Iraq and Syria..."

Official PA TV program Personal Encounter hosted senior PA leader Nabil Shaath: Senior PA leader Nabil Shaath: “First of all, the Palestinian nation is taking responsibility. First, it is taking responsibility for Palestinian land in general and Jerusalem in particular, and it is still – today was a bloody day in Jerusalem, but our nation redeems Al-Aqsa and the Islamic and Christian holy places in Jerusalem with its blood… In the end, it is the destiny of the Palestinian nation to carry out Ribat (religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic) in defense of Palestine – [the Palestinian nation] that stands firm so that Palestine will not be lost; and we will fight so that the Palestinian cause does not become obsolete. Our role is to stand firm, wage Ribat, resist, support and build.”

The Fatah Advisory Council held a meeting on Nov. 23, 2014, during a period of high ‎tension in Jerusalem. In the months of October and November alone, six terror attacks ‎took place that claimed the lives of 11 (see note for details). The Fatah council referred ‎the terrorists who were killed in these attacks with the term of highest honor, “Shahids” ‎‎– Martyrs and praised Palestinians who are carrying out Ribat (religious conflict/war ‎over land claimed to be Islamic) in Jerusalem:‎
‎ “The Fatah Advisory Council concluded its eighth session yesterday [Nov. 23, 2014]. ‎Ramallah under the heading ‘Session of the Martyrs of the Homeland, the Martyrs of ‎Jerusalem and the Martyrs of Al-Aqsa – the Martyrs’ Session of the Fatah Advisory ‎Council.’… The President [Mahmoud Abbas] said, ‘I salute our people that stand resolute in ‎defense of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa, and say to them: “We are all willing to sacrifice ‎ourselves for Al-Aqsa; we are all willing to sacrifice ourselves for Jerusalem.”’…‎
The Fatah Advisory Council saluted the heroic mass uprising and the brave spirit ‎‎[with] which [it] is confronting, with chest bared, the settlement attack on ‎Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. In addition, it [the Council] said that our youth, ‎women and men in Jerusalem prove they are carrying out Ribat (religious conflict/war ‎over land claimed to be Islamic) in Jerusalem and its environs until Judgment Day‎."Click to view bulletin

Abbas' advisor and Fatah Central Committee member Sultan Abu Al-Einein: "Peace be upon you, oh children of Jerusalem. Oh, those who carry out Ribat (religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic) in the plazas of the first direction of prayer of Allah (i.e. the Al-Aqsa Mosque) in the name of your people and your Arab nation... Blessed be your quality weapons, the wheels of your cars, your axes and kitchen knives. By Allah, these are stronger than the arsenals of our enemy, because [they are being used] according to Allah's will. We are the soldiers of Allah." Click to view bulletin

Note: “The wheels of your cars, your axes and kitchen knives” is a reference to a spate of terror attacks that were carried out in Jerusalem in October and November 2014. On Oct. 22 and Nov. 5, 2014, Palestinian terrorists ‎drove their cars into pedestrians in Jerusalem in two separate attacks, killing a total of 4. ‎ On Nov. 18, 2014, two Arab terrorists entered a synagogue in Jerusalem and attacked worshippers with guns, knives and axes, killing 5 and injuring 7.

Official PA TV Live broadcast PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ speech at the opening of the 14th session of the Fatah Revolutionary CouncilPA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas: “For a while now, Jerusalem has been subjected to the attacks of the settlers, who are aiming to divide the holy compound according to time and place. We know what this means. Numerous attacks on the Al-Aqsa Mosque have been stopped by those carrying out Ribat (religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic) who were present at the holy compound. I say to our people in Jerusalem and the West Bank: We must all carry out Ribat at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and we will not let the herds of settlers deride the Al-Aqsa Mosque. We are currently taking the necessary international legal steps in this matter.”

Note: The physical division and division according to time refers to a proposed law (May 2013) being reviewed in Israeli Parliament that would allow for both Jews and Muslims to pray on the Temple Mount. The law seeks to implement separate prayer times for Muslims and Jews at the site.

Official PA TV broadcast a repeat of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ speech on the 10th anniversary of Yasser Arafat’s death:PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas: “The Israeli leadership is making a big mistake if it thinks history is reversible and that they can establish facts on the ground and divide the Al-Aqsa [Mosque] according to place and time, as they did in the past at the Ibrahimi Mosque (i.e., Cave of the Patriarchs) in Hebron – a step they will yet retract. With their actions, they are leading the region and the world into a destructive religious war. Neither the Muslim nor the Christian world will ever accept the Israeli claims that Jerusalem belongs to them. No one, [neither] Muslims nor Christians, will accept that Jerusalem be [anything] but the capital of the State of Palestine, and we will accept no other claims, whatever they may be. Jerusalem is our capital, and we will not give it up. Jerusalem, which was conquered in 1967, is our Jerusalem and our capital, and we will protect it and defend its holy places. We are all Murabitin (i.e., those who carry out Ribat, religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic) along with the children of Jerusalem.”

Note: The physical division and division according to time refers to a proposed law (May 2013) being reviewed in Israeli Parliament that would allow for both Jews and Muslims to pray on the Temple Mount. The law seeks to implement separate prayer times for Muslims and Jews at the site.
Click "full article" for more information about "the division of Al-Aqsa Mosque according to place and time."

Yasser Arafat: "Millions of Martyrs are marching to Jerusalem! Oh Lord, let me become a Martyr among the Martyrs of Jerusalem." Singer: "Massive armies are advancing on Jerusalem.
They do not fear the attackers
May our convoy die as Martyrs to redeem the forlorn Al-Aqsa...
Jerusalem is shouting ‘O Homeland.’
It needs a mausoleum [for Arafat]
Until your heart comes to rest in Jerusalem,
the land of Ribat (religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic)." Click to view videoClick to view bulletin

Official PA TV News report on the demonstrations in Hebron in support of the Al-Aqsa Mosque

PA Chairman Abbas’ advisor on NGOs and Fatah Central Committee member Sultan Abu Al-Einein: “This (i.e., demonstrations in support of Al-Aqsa) reflects the setting out to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which the Messenger of Allah called us [to perform.] All the children of the homeland must be present at this clamorous confrontation with the Israeli enemy, which has infested our holy places in Al-Aqsa. For the first time, [the occupation] has entered into the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque and is dealing with the Murabitin (those who carry out Ribat, (religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic) there with bullets and tear gas.”

Note: In a Hadith, Muhammad is said to have called Muslims to “set out” for three mosques – Al-Masjid al-Haram (in Mecca), Al-Masjid Al-Nabaw? (in Medina) and Al-Aqsa.

Headline: “The Murabitin (those who carry out Ribat, religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic) continue to protect Al-Aqsa”Images showing demonstrations, riots and clashes in East Jerusalem, damage caused to the Al-Aqsa Mosque during riots, and injured people.
For more images, click "Full article"